Disk holder

ABSTRACT

A storage case for compact disks rotatably mounted inside a housing. The cradle preferably comprises a base, an outwardly angled side wall extending upward from the base, and at least one lobe extending upward from the opposite side of the base. A slot is formed between the lobe and the side wall for storing the disk. The tabs, preferably located within the lobe, secure the disk inside the cradle, preventing the disk from inadvertently falling out of the cradle.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This application is a continuation in part of U.S. applicationSer. No. 10/379,034 filed on Mar. 4, 2003, which is a continuation ofU.S. application Ser. No. 09/688,474 filed on Oct. 16, 2000, which is acontinuation-in-part of U.S. application Ser. No. 09/293,156 filed onApr. 16, 1999.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0002] This invention relates to a storage device and more particularlyto a storage case for carrying compact, audio, or video disk media whichincludes CDROM, CD-G, CD video disks, audio CD's, karaoke CD's, andDVD's.

BACKGROUND

[0003] There are many common storage units on the market for storage ofcompact disks and DVD's. A less common design for disk storage casesprovides a plastic hinged booklet-type case. The disk is stored around acentral rosette which engages the annular region in the center of thedisk. Problems arise with such cases when removing the disk. The diskmay become caught on the rosette, making removal of the disk cumbersome.In other instances, the disk may crack or break when being removed fromthe case due to difficulty of releasing the disk from the rosette. It isalso common for the cover of such cases to become disengaged from thebase, leaving the disk exposed when placed in a case.

SUMMARY

[0004] Certain embodiments of the present invention solves significantproblems in the art by providing a case for storing compact disks andthe like that is easy and convenient to use.

[0005] Generally described, certain embodiments of the present inventionprovide an improved storage cradle for compact disks and the likecomprising a base having a vertically upstanding outwardly angled sidewall. Opposite the side wall are a plurality of lobes, forming a storageslot between the side wall and the lobes. Tabs are preferably locatedwithin the lobes, adjacent the bottom of the slot. The disk may beplaced inside the storage cradle by positioning the disk between theslot formed between the lobes and the side wall. The tabs are operableto grip the disk, securing the disk within the cradle. A storage cradlealso comprises a rear wall and a vertically upstanding front wall.

[0006] Certain embodiments of the present invention provide a cradlewherein the side wall is higher than the lobes, allowing for easyinsertion of the disk into the slot of the cradle. The side wall ispreferably angled from 3 to 4 degrees at the bottom of the side wall.The angle of the side wall prevents damage to the stored disk due toabrasion with the side wall of the cradle when the disk is stored.

[0007] Certain embodiments of the present invention also provide ahousing inside which the storage cradle may be pivotally mounted. A pulltab attached to the front wall of the cradle facilitates pivoting thecradle within the housing in order to open and close the storage case.

[0008] According to certain embodiments of the present invention, thestorage case is ergonomically designed in order to provide a userfriendly disk storage device. A stored disk can be easily accessed by auser using only a single hand by simply pulling on the pull tab of thecradle and rotating the cradle from the closed to the open position. Thedisk can easily be removed from the cradle, again using only a singlehand. While the tabs secure the disk when located in the cradle, thedisk can easily be released from the cradle without great effort andrisk to the disk. The disk can similarly be replaced inside the cradleusing a single hand by simply placing the disk in the slot of the cradleand gently adjusting the disk so that it is engaged by the tabs.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0009]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a case according to certainembodiments of the invention.

[0010]FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a case according to certainembodiments of the invention in the open position.

[0011]FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a case according to certainembodiments of the invention in the open position.

[0012]FIG. 4 is a top plan view of a case according to certainembodiments of the invention.

[0013]FIG. 5 is a top plan view of a portion of the case according tocertain embodiments of the invention showing the opening and closing ofthe case.

[0014]FIG. 6 is a cross sectional view of the case of FIG. 5 containinga disk along the line 6-6.

[0015]FIG. 6A is a cross sectional view of the case of FIG. 5 along theline 6-6.

[0016]FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the cradle according to certainembodiments of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0017] Referring now in more detail to the drawings, in which likenumerals refer to like parts throughout the several views, FIG. 1 showsa perspective view of a case 10, comprising a cradle 12 and a housing70, for storing disks containing readable data according to certainembodiments of the present invention.

[0018]FIG. 7 shows the top surface of the cradle 12 comprising asubstantially flat base 14. A rear wall 16 extends vertically upwardfrom a first end of the base. A front wall 18 extends vertically upwardfrom the opposite end of the base 14. The front wall is preferablyapproximately twice as tall as the rear wall 16. The front wall 18 isalso preferably slightly taller than the diameter of a disk I 1 to bestored in the cradle.

[0019] A vertically upstanding side 20 wall extends upward from one sideedge of the base and extends upward along the front wall 18 and the rearwall 16. The bottom portion of the side wall 20 is preferably outwardlyangled as shown in FIG. 6. According to certain embodiments of thepresent invention, the angle of the side wall 20 may preferably bebetween 3 to 4 degrees. The upper portion of the side wall is preferablystraight, perpendicular to the base. The top edge of the side wall isgenerally C-shaped, permitting easy access to a disk when stored in thecradle.

[0020] A plurality of lobes 22 preferably extend upwardly from theopposite side edge of the cradle base 14, front wall 18, and rear wall16. The lobes 22 are preferably shorter in comparison to the side wall20. A slot 25 is formed between the side wall 20 and the lobes 22, asshown in FIG. 6A. The side wall and lobes are positioned apart to formthe slot 25 which accommodates the thickness of the disk 11 to bestored. A ledge 24 is located at the bottom of the slot 25, between thelobes and the side wall. The ledge 24 is also generally C-shaped and hasa very similar contour to the top edge of the side wall 20. It isrelatively easy to position the disk within the slot 25 of the cradle 12due to the discrepancies in height between the lobes 22 and the sidewall 20. Once inside the slot, the outer edge of the disk will rest onthe ledge.

[0021] Tabs 23 are preferably located within the lobes 22 of the cradle.The lobes 22 may preferably have a void section and the tabs 23 maypreferably extend into the void section of the lobe. The lobes provideprotection to the tabs from unwanted deformation or damage, particularlyduring removal of a stored disk. The tabs 23 are preferably positionedto extend slightly into the slot formed between the lobes and the sidewall, slightly above the ledge. According to certain embodiments of thepresent invention, the tabs may preferably be in the form of afinger-like extension, but any other type of tab may be used if desired.As shown in FIG. 6A, the inner surface of the tabs 23 may preferably beangled such that the top portion of the tab is thinner and the tabgradually increases in thickness towards the bottom of the tab, adjacentthe base of the cradle. The distance between the thickest portion of thetab and the bottom of the side wall is preferably slightly less than thethickness of the disk to be stored. As the disk 11 is placed in the slotto be stored in the cradle, the bottom edge of the disk may engage aportion of the tab. Due to the angle of the tab surface, the diskpreferably slides along the inner surface of the tab until it reachesthe base of the cradle. In this position, the tab 23 engages andprovides slight pressure against the unreadable outer edge of the diskcreating a friction fit between the tab and the bottom portion of theside wall 20 opposite the lobe. The bottom portion of the side wall,which is adjacent to the readable side of the disk, is angled outwardlyso that it does not engage the readable portion of the disk, which isthereby not scratched. The top portion of the side wall is parallel to,but preferably does not touch, the disk. It may be preferable for theportion of the side wall opposite the tab to be a void section ofapproximately the same size as the lobe. According to certainembodiments of the present invention, the cradle may comprise aplurality of lobes, only some of which further comprise tabs 23 forholding the disk. Alternatively, the cradle may not have any lobes atall, and only tabs that support the disk opposite the side wall.

[0022] As shown in FIGS. 1-3, the cradle 12 according to certainembodiments of the present invention may be mounted within the housing70 forming a storage case 10. The housing is preferably generallyrectangular in shape and comprises a base wall 72. Two verticallyupstanding side walls 74, 75 extend upwardly from the side edges of thebase wall. The side walls are preferably parallel to each other. A rearwall 76 extends upwardly from the base wall, between the two side walls.A top wall 78 extends across the top of the housing, between the sidewalls. The housing is sized to hold the cradle and the disk.

[0023] According to certain embodiments of the present invention, theside walls 74, 75 of the housing extend beyond the front edge of thehousing base, as shown in FIG. 3. The portion of the housing side wallsextending beyond the front edge of the base may preferably be slightlyrounded. An axle pin 79 is preferably located on one of the side wallsadjacent the rounded edge. The axle pin extends between the two sidewalls 74, 75.

[0024] An aperture is preferably located in the cradle adjacent thecorner where the base and the front wall of the cradle meet. The cradleis mounted within the housing by placing the axle pin of the housingthrough the aperture. In order to do this, the housing preferablycomprises two parts. One part comprising one side wall and the secondpart comprising the other side wall, which can be fastened together.Locking tabs are located on the base portion of one of the housinghalves. When the two halves of the housing are placed together, thelocking tabs of one half engage grooves located on the second half,fastening the two halves together. It should also be understood thatother methods for fastening the two halves may be used including glue,thermal welding and various other snap-fit arrangements.

[0025] A finger tab 35 is located on the top portion of the front wallof the cradle 12. The finger tab facilitates rotation of the cradlearound the axle formed by the pin of the housing passing through theaperture of the cradle when the storage case 10 is assembled. The fingertab 35 allows a user to rotate the cradle from the open or closedposition. When the cradle is in the closed position, the finger tab ispreferably accessible because the side wall 74 comprises a notch 81located near the top of the side wall. The notch 81 exposes the sideportion of the finger tab 35. The finger tab may preferably be contouredor ribbed to provide an easier surface for a user to grip the cradle.The finger tab comprises a concave outer side surface and top surfacemaking it convenient to open using the thumb and one finger. The usercan preferably place the thumb on the side portion of the finger tab andthe finger on the top portion of the finger tab and easily rotate thecradle to the open position.

[0026] A latch arm 40 extends from the rear wall of the cradle towardsthe base. The latch arm comprises a notched and a contoured tip. As thecradle is rotated from the open to the closed position, the tip of thelatch arm comes in contact with a locking tab 80 extending into thehousing 70 from the rear wall of the housing. The locking tab 80 ispreferably located on the rear wall of the housing adjacent to the baseof the housing. As the latch arm 40 initially engages the locking tab,the user preferably notices the pressure the locking tab 80 applies tothe latch arm. The latch arm is preferably resilient in nature allowingit to deflect as the user continues to rotate the cradle to the closedposition. The latch arm will continue to deflect until the locking tabengages the notch 42 of the latch arm. Once the locking tab 80 engagesthe notch 42 of the latch arm 40, a positive lock is created and thecradle cannot be inadvertently opened. The deflection of the latch armand engagement by the locking tab provides tactile feedback to a userwhen closing the case, indicating that the case has been successfullyclosed. The cradle may be opened by pulling on the finger tab, forcingthe locking tab past the notch 42 of the latch arm, releasing the cradleand allowing it to be rotated to the open position.

[0027] A first storage rail 85 may preferably be located along the topwall 78 of the housing interior. A second storage rail 86 is preferablylocated adjacent the base of the interior portion of the housing, on thesame side of the housing as the first storage rail. A booklet (notshown) which typically accompanies disks containing readable data may bestored inside the housing. The booklet preferably rests within thehousing between the two storage rails. The front wall of the cradle ispreferably sized to accommodate a disk identification label.

[0028] The cradle, when rotated fully to the open position, maypreferably only rotate approximately 90°. The cradle is preferablyprevented from rotating beyond approximately 90° by a stop notch 47located on the base of the cradle. The stop notch 47 preferably contactsthe second storage rail 86 when the cradle is rotated approximately 90°,preventing the cradle from rotating any more. Once the stop notch 47engages the second storage rail 86, the user receives indication thatthe cradle can not travel any further. By rotating the cradle 90° to theopen position, the case can rest on a flat surface in the opencondition.

[0029] It should be understood that the a disk 11 may be placed withinthe cradle 12 and stored in the housing 70 according to certainembodiments of the invention. The disk, when being stored, is placed inthe slot 25 of the cradle formed between the side wall and the lobes andis preferably engaged by the tabs. The cradle can be rotated within thehousing between the closed and open positions as desired. The housingpreferably comprises a disk retention tab 89 located on the rear wall 76of the housing. The disk retention tab 89 is preferably locatedapproximately two thirds of the way up the rear wall of the housing andextends slightly into the housing. When the cradle containing a disk isin the closed position, the outer edge of the disk 11 may preferablyrest against the outer edge of the disk retention tab 89, preventing thedisk from moving inside the housing in the event the disk becomesdislodged from the tabs.

[0030] The ledge 24 preferably forms a ramp 51 along the front wall ofthe cradle. The ramp prevents the disk from rolling out of the cradlewhen the cradle is rotated to the open position in the event the diskbecomes disengaged from the tabs. Therefore, the cradle can be rotated90° to the open position and the case can rest on a flat surface withoutrisk of the disk falling out of the cradle.

[0031] By providing the rotating cradle within the housing, a user maygain access to the stored disk by opening the case with a single hand.One hand access provides a number of advantages including safety whenaccessing a disk within an automobile. The present invention providestrouble-free access to a disk and a storage mechanism which does notdamage the readable surface of the disk.

[0032] It should be understood that multiple cradles can be arrangedtogether, for example in adjacent fashion, creating a disk storage unit.According to certain embodiments of the invention, each case maycomprise interlocking tabs in order to attach to another case. Suchinterlocking tabs would preferably allow a user to purchase individualcases at various times and attach them together, forming a storage unitfor multiple disks.

[0033] The embodiments described above illustrate particular aspects ofthe inventive concepts of the invention. It should be understood thatstructures and methods of retaining disks in a case comprising a cradleand housing may be modified without departing from the scope and spiritof the invention.

What is claimed is:
 1. A cradle for storing a disc containing readabledata, comprising: a base comprising a vertically upstanding outwardlyangled side wall and at least one lobe opposite the side wall, whereby aslot is formed between the side wall and the lobe for storing the disc;a tab located within the lobe and adjacent the base, the tab operable toengage the disc when the disc is placed in the slot for storage; a rearwall; and a vertically upstanding front wall.
 2. The cradle according toclaim 1, wherein the side wall is taller than the lobe allowing easyinsertion of the disc into the slot.
 3. The cradle according to claim 1,wherein the angle of the side wall is three to four degrees.
 4. Thecradle according to claim 1, wherein the tabs are positioned to engagethe unreadable outer edge of the disc, forcing the disc against thebottom portion of the side wall and securing the disc within the cradle.5. The cradle according to claim 1, further comprising a plurality oflobes.
 6. The cradle according to claim 1, wherein the side wall isgenerally C-shaped.
 7. The cradle according to claim 1, furthercomprising a ledge between the side wall and the lobe for supporting theouter edge of the disc, the ledge comprising a ramp along the front wallof the cradle.
 8. A storage case for discs containing readable datacomprising: a housing; a storage cradle pivotally mounted within thehousing, the cradle comprising a base, a front wall, a rear wall, avertically upstanding outwardly angled side wall extending from the baseand at lease one lobe extending from the base whereby a slot is formedbetween the side wall and the lobe for storing the disc; a tab locatedwithin the lobe adjacent the base of the cradle operable to engage thedisc when placed in the slot and force the disc against the bottomportion of the side wall securing the disc within the cradle; a rearwall; and a vertically upstanding front wall.
 9. The storage caseaccording to claim 8, further comprising a finger tab attached to thefront wall of the cradle to facilitate pivoting the cradle within thehousing.
 10. The storage case according to claim 9, further comprising alatch arm extending from the rear wall of the cradle, the latch armengaging a locking tab extending from the rear wall of the housing whenthe cradle is pivoted in the closed position, the latch arm and lockingtab creating a positive lock when the storage case is closed.
 11. Thestorage case according to claim 10, wherein the latch arm furthercomprises a notch which engages the locking tab creating the positivelock when the storage case is closed.
 12. The storage case according toclaim 8, further comprising storage rails for storing a booklet.
 13. Thestorage case according to claim 12, wherein the storage rails extendapproximately the entire width of the housing.
 14. The storage caseaccording to claim 8, wherein the side wall of the cradle is taller thanthe lobe allowing easy insertion of the disc into the slot.
 15. Thestorage case according to claim 8, wherein the angle of the side wall ofthe cradle is three to four degrees.
 16. The storage case according toclaim 8, wherein the tab located on the lobe is positioned to engage theunreadable outer edge of the disc.
 17. The storage case according toclaim 8, wherein the cradle further comprises a plurality of lobes. 18.The storage case according to claim 8, wherein the side wall of thecradle is generally C-shaped.
 19. The storage case according to claim 8,wherein the cradle further comprises a stop notch preventing the cradlefrom rotating more than approximately 90° when opened.
 20. The storagecase according to claim 1, further comprising a ledge between the sidewall and the lobe for supporting the outer edge of the disc, the ledgecomprising a ramp along the front wall of the cradle preventing the discfrom inadvertently rolling out of the case when the cradle is rotated tothe open position.
 21. A cradle for storing a disc containing readabledata, comprising: a base comprising a vertically upstanding outwardlyangled side wall and at least one tab opposite the side wall, whereby aslot is formed between the side wall and the tab for storing the disc,the tab operable to engage the disc when the disc is placed in the slotfor storage; a rear wall; and a vertically upstanding front wall. 22.The cradle according to claim 21, wherein the tabs are positioned toengage the unreadable outer edge of the disc, forcing the disc againstthe bottom portion of the side wall and securing the disc within thecradle.
 23. The cradle according to claim 22, further comprising aplurality of tabs.
 24. The cradle according to claim 24, furthercomprising a ledge between the side wall and the lobe for supporting theouter edge of the disc, the ledge comprising a ramp along the front wallof the cradle.